"There is a wealth of talent within Scotland who struggle to get noticed
by labels and media," he says. "It would be amazing if through my
efforts in promoting this event that some of these bands and artists gain
a wider audience. As an artist being part of an excellent local music scene,
I aim to showcase some of this, and hopefully as it progresses and branches
out into other cities and venues I can do the same thing throughout Scotland,
so I can show the world how much talent Perth and Scotland as a whole have
to offer.
Stuart
Blance
Stuart Blance is not only a talented musician, but he's also a One World Beat
volunteer coordinator. Based in Perth, Stuart is keen to promote Scottish-based
music to a bigger audience through his involvement in One World Beat. Stuart
was featured on Tay FM radio station (hear him)
for his role as musician and volunteer.
"My involvement in One World Beat very rewarding, partly because I am helping children who are suffering from HIV and AIDS, and also because I am able to do something I love to make a difference as part of a very worthwhile cause. Hopefully, at the same time as raising money and awareness for this cause, I am also raising the profile of Scotland and its music scene at the same time."
Stuart is organising three events the weekend of March 19-21 at Twa Tams in Perth. There has been plenty of interest from artists in Scotland, including a Senegalese musician based in Edinburgh—and new Scottish record label Travelled Music agreed to donate money to One World Beat from the release of up and coming Scottish band Ordinaryson's debut EP. Travelled Music's Alan Thompson has previously worked on a charity project in Nepal—distributing football equipment and coaching Tibetan refugees in the foothills of the Himalayas, which was filmed as a documentary. With the assistance of his girlfriend Fiona McConnochie, a lecturer and piper from Dundee, Stuart hopes to organise an event involving world famous piper Roddy Macleod at the National Piping Centre in Glasgow. "I thought it was important to have some traditional Scottish music within this world music event and it would be fantastic to have someone like Roddy involved," said Stuart.
In December 2001 Stuart released his debut album Utopia and two months later, he was nominated as artist of the month on Tay FM's weekender show. Stuart was selected to play for an event looking for Scotland's best acoustic artists in 2003 which was sponsored by the Scottish national newspaper, the Daily Record.
He sees One World Beat as one of his most exciting projects to date. "I got myself involved with One World Beat because I feel that through my music I have an outlet to be heard and therefore can help make a difference to those less fortunate than myself," added Stuart. "One minute I was volunteering to play at an event for One World Beat, the next I was asked if I would be interested in becoming the Scottish representative. "This is a great challenge for me but one I am enjoying. I am very proud to be involved and to be representing music in Scotland in this way."
—by Mark Roach
Join Stuart and the many other musicians in this global project!
The One World Beat music festival on March 19-21 2004 is an opportunity for local musicians and bands to participate in a global charity project and make a real difference with their music. United artists perform in music venues around the world. Proceeds are donated to an AIDS project selected by One World Beat.
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